Made In Chelsea star Sam Thompson has revealed he has been diagnosed with autism.
The 32-year-old announced he has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in 2023, calling the condition a “blessing” and his “superpower”.
Thompson has now explained that he “knew there was more to the story” and has also been diagnosed with the neurodevelopmental condition autism.
Autism affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn, and behave. It is characterized by differences in social communication, a need for predictability, sensory processing differences, focused interests, and repeated behaviors, according to Autism Speaks.
He shared the diagnosis in a light-hearted video on Instagram on Sunday, in which he dressed up as two different Sams - one representing himself and the other, his ADHD.
The text above the I’m A Celebrity! star read: “You got diagnosed with ADHD in your late twenties but something still doesn’t add up...”
The video then showed a third Sam wearing an inflatable dinosaur costume and beaming as he emerged from around the corner with the text “autism” above him.
The reality star wrote in the caption, “Knew there was more to the story,” with a laughing face emoji.
His fans flooded the comments with their support and praised him for using “humour” to “raise awareness” for the condition.
“Love this ! X thank you, as always, for raising awareness and being a great role model,” one wrote.
“Welcome to the gang, life truly makes sense from this point onwards!” another added.
“A guy not being afraid to speak up and share his diagnosis and doing it with humor, is a superpower in my opinion. That kind of openness will definitely help others on their journey too,” a third posted.
Symptoms of autism include preferring to be alone and avoiding eye contact, difficulty with acts of affection like hugging, difficulty discussing feelings or other people’s and relating to them, struggling with changes in routine, and reacting differently to smell, taste, sight, feel, or sound.
Autism usually develops around the age of three and lasts for a person’s whole life. It is not clear what causes the condition.
Everybody is different on the spectrum of autism, with some people needing little or no support while others may need help from a parent or carer, according to the NHS.
Thompson - who recently split from Zara McDermott after five years together - was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 30.
It is common for people with ADHD to also have autism and this co-occurrence is often referred to as AuDHD in the neurodivergent community.
He said in the I’m A Celebrity jungle last year that he was “not ashamed” of his ADHD, which is characterised by symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.
The podcast host became the official ambassador of ADHD UK last year and said he wants to “encourage conversation around the topic” and change how people view ADHD.
He shared an emotional video of himself giving advice to two children who have ADHD, telling them the condition is a “superpower” and encouraging them to put their energy into “something they love”.
“Since I left the jungle, I've met so many children and adults who have come up to me, or contacted me to say I've helped change their minds on how they view ADHD,” Thompson wrote in the caption.
“I want to reach as many people as I possibly can, especially young people, and show there is such magic in being neurodiverse.
“Yes there are some very real challenges along the way, but with the right support, it can be a superpower, it can be a blessing and we can achieve all of our dreams.”
